EU considering ban on entry for all Russians who fought against Ukraine

The Estonian minister noted that the European community is now facing a new challenge that EU countries must overcome.

According to him, there are about one million men in Russia who have fought or are still fighting in Ukraine. Most of them, he said, are criminals and extremely dangerous individuals.

"We have information that most of them will come to Europe after the war. And Europe is not ready for that. And we are talking about people who has been, you know, they're criminals, they're rapists, they're really, really bad people. And we need to put together the blacklist of these people and ban (them - ed.) as Schengen countries. They enter already right now. So this is something I put on the table today to the Council," Tsahkna said.

The foreign minister stressed that Estonia has already begun addressing the issue, but a comprehensive solution is only possible with the involvement of all EU member states.

"This is a matter mainly for the Minister of Interior and these agencies. But we need to have a common policy on European Union level. I cannot imagine how our leaders can explain if peace is coming and these hundreds and hundreds of thousands of ex-combatants are coming to Europe. We need to protect European security, and we need to do it together," he emphasized.

Recently, Estonia banned entry to more than 260 individuals who took part in the war against Ukraine on the side of the Russian army.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna also promised that the Estonian authorities would continue working to ensure that "the doors remain closed to former Russian combatants."

He further urged other countries to join in imposing similar restrictions.